[12 January 2012 – Hong Kong] Music is the essence of a film which enhances the movie goers’ emotions and helps the movie makers to deliver their art to the audience’s life. Hailed as the “King of Movie Music”, composer and conductor John Williams has spanned his career almost six decades and has composed some of the most recognizable film scores in the history of motion pictures.

In the celebration of the composer’s 80th Birthday, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HKPO) teams up with American maestro Richard Kaufman will perform an exciting programme featuring many of the most significant pieces of John Williams, including Star Wars: Main Theme, Jaws, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter: Harry's Wondrous World, Superman: March and many more.

SoundFest: “Tribute to John Williams” will be held on 28&29 Jan 2012 (Fri & Sat), 8pm in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Audience is invited to dress up in their favourite movie costumes to the concert and we will have our photographers to take pictures for them!

Richard Kaufman, conductor/presenter
Richard Kaufman has devoted much of his musical life to conducting and supervising music for film and television productions, as well as performing film and classical music in concert halls and on recordings. He joined the Music Department of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios in 1984 as Music Coordinator, and for the next 18 years supervised music for all MGM television projects. He holds the permanent title of Pops Conductor Laureate with the Dallas Symphony and currently in his seventh season with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra concert series, “Friday Night at the Movies”, conducting classic and contemporary film music, as well as classical music used in motion pictures. 2011-2012 concert season also marks Maestro Kaufman’s 21st season as Principal Pops Conductor of Orange County’s Pacific Symphony.

Maestro Kaufman received the 1993 Grammy Award in the category of Best Pop Instrumental Performance for a recording with the Nuremberg Symphony.

Programme
For forty years, John Williams’ music has enhanced our most intense cinema moments: ET’s bicycle flight, Harry Potter’s wizardry, the thrills of Indiana Jones, plus of course the terror caused by Jaws – truly chilling horror music which kept us out of the water for years. And who could forget the blazing fanfares of Star Wars? In 2012 the Maestro of the film soundtrack turns 80, and we salute him with a concert of his best music. Acclaimed Hollywood conductor Richard Kaufman brings an evening of top music – and a few good stories– to our stage. Bring your light sabre!

Dress up in your favourite movie costumes!You can be a movie star! Our on-site photographer is all set and ready! Dress up in your favourite movie costume, or put on the latest fashion, and have your picture taken. Photos can be downloaded from our Facebook afterwards.

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HKPO) is one of Asia's leading orchestras. Enriching Hong Kong's cultural life for over a century, the Orchestra has grown into a formidable ensemble of Chinese and international talents, attracting world-class artists to collaborate on its stage. HKPO annually touches the lives of over 200,000 music lovers through more than 150 performances including its extensive education programme HSBC Insurance Creative Notes and free concerts such as the popular Swire Symphony under the Stars, and regular broadcasts and telecasts. Outside of Hong Kong, the HKPO has made a number of critically acclaimed tours in Asia and Europe.

The 2011/12 season will mark Maestro Edo de Waart's eighth and final season with the HKPO. Apart from his own series of five special programmes which are summaries of his achievements with the Orchestra over the last seven years, ending with Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, the new season will also attract a stellar cast of great artists and guest conductors.

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra is financially supported by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
SWIRE is the Principal Patron of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra
The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra is the Venue Partner of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre